Apparatus for separating gas from liquid



Oct. 15, 1940. R. s BASSETT 2,217,655

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GAS FROM LIQUID Filed June 20, 1939 %6m/6MrM ATTOZA EYS.

Patented Oct. 15, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Robert S. Bassett, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to Sylvia Bassett, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application June 20, 1939, Serial No. 280,097

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in gas and liquid separating apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus of this kind for use in connection with the measuring of liquids, such for example as fuel oil, while the same is being delivered from one container to another.

In most types of meters used in connection with measuring apparatus, if air, gas or vapor 4 passes through the meter, such gaseous medium will be measured, thus producing incorrect measurement of the actual liquid passing through the meter. Gases or vapors may be formed in pipe lines through the evaporation of the more volatile constituents of the oil or other liquid and air is often present in lines due to the lines becoming partially empty when measuring operations are stopped. The term gas is herein employed to include air and vapor.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide in a gas and liquid separating apparatus of improved construction for removing gas from the liquid, thereby increasing the accuracy of measurement of liquid.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved gas separator for liquid measuring apparatus, having means of improved construction for creating in the separator sufficient pressure to discharge gas therefrom. It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved gas separator having a passageway submerged in the liquid being pumped, through which liquid can pass out of the separator, but which resists the passage of gas therethrough from the separator.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved means for separating gas from the liquid which include a pair of discharge passages, one of which is continuously open and the other of which is controlled by means of a back pressure valve.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is an elevation of an improved liquid measuring apparatus having an air and gas separating device embodying this invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a central sectional elevation, on an en- 5Q larged scale, of an air and gas separating device embodying this invention, the parts being shown in the positions which they occupy when the apparatus is in operation.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of 55 the lower portion only of the device shown in Fig. 2, the parts in this device being shown in different positions. v

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view thereof, on line 4-4, Fig. 2. I

In Fig. 1, I have shown a liquid measuring 5 apparatus in connection with which my improvements can be-used. It will be understood, however, that it is not intended to lirnit this in vention to the use of the particular installation illustrated in Fig. 1. In this figure, 8 represents 10 a tank or container such, for example, as a storage tank for the liquid to be measured, or the tank of a tank car, the tank shown being provideci'nl the upper portion thereof with the usual filling cap 9, which preferably has the usual vent 15 hole through which air may enter to take the place of liquid which is withdrawn from the tank. l0 represents a pump of any suitable type, the inlet end of which is connected by a pipe II with the lower portion of the tank 8, and I2 20 represents a discharge pipe leading from the pump H). The liquid passes from the pipe l2 into a separating device M in which gas, which may be in the form of vapor or air is separated from the liquid which is being handled. (6 rep- 25 resents a meter connected by means of a pipe H with the gas separating device I4, and IB represents a pipe or duct through which measured quantities of the liquid may be discharged, the pipe preferably extending above the liquid level 30 in the tank 8 and being provided with a control valve l9 near the end thereof. The pipe arrangement described is of a type which is suitable for use, for example, for measuring fuel oil and discharging it to a tank truck for delivery to a 35 consumer. 20 r'epresents a gas pipe or duct connecting the upper portion of the gas separator I4 with the upper portion of the-tank 8, so that the air or gas discharged from the separator I4 is discharged into the top of the tank.

The separating device H, which is shown more in detail in Figs. 2 to 4 includes a lower housing part 24 having an inlet port or opening with which one end of the pipe I2 is connected to discharge liquid irom the pump l0 into the lower housing part 24. At the opposite side of. the housing part 24, a discharge opening or port is provided, through which liquid is discharged to the meter l6 through the pipe 11. The separator also has an upper housing 25 suitably connected with the lower housing in any desired manner, for example, by means of a short pipe 26. The upper housing contains a float 21 attached to a lever which is pivotally mounted at 28 on a cap 29 of the housing 25. On this housing cap is provided a valve controlled as venflng port It by of which gas collecting on the upper portion of the housing It may be discharged to thepipe II. In the particular construction shown. the

28 and causes the fioat 2'! to rise, the valve will seat, thus preventing further escape of gas to the pipe II. If. however. additional gas enters into the lower housing 24 through the pipe this gas will quickly find its way through the connecting pipe it into the upper housing and as it accumulates'in the upper portion oi housing ll, eventually the liquid level will be lowered so that the fioat will cause the valve 82 to be moved fromits seat. whereupon gas is discharged'irom' the upper portion of the chamber 2| to the pipe or duct ll. Any other means'ior controlling the discharge oi gas from the housing II in accordance with the level oi liquid therein may be employed, if desired.

The discharge 01- gas from the separator is'. oi course, contingent upon the maintaining oi a pressure in the separator materially greater than that of the atmosphere, so that the discharge oi gas from the separator will be rapid and reliable, to prevent any of the gas from paling to the meter. I'brthispurpose, abackpressure valve is provided at the discharge of the separator. It is also very desirable to provide another passage at the discharge 0! the separator through which a portion or the liquid may fiow when the back pressure valve is closed. The drawing illustrates aconstructioninwhichonetoithis invention is incorporated, which construction is as follows.

The lower housing member 24 is provided with apocket or sump ll in the lowerportion thereoi, which is arranged below the level of the inlet pipe I! and discharge pipe II. This lower portion 0! the housing member 24 is also provided with a partition or wall ll extending upwardly (run the bottom oi. the housing member 24 and dividing the housing into a main gas separating chamber 31 and a smaller discharge chamber ll. This partition wall it is also provided in the lower portion thereof with an opening I! through which communication is established between the separating chamber 31 and the discharge chamber 88. The partition It is also provided with a secend or auxiliary opening 4. which is preferably controlled by means'oi a back pressure valve ti. This valve is preferably yieldingly held in closed position in any suitable manner so that a desired pressure will be created in the chamber 8!. when the pump is operating in order to move this valve into its open position. In the particular construction shown, the valve is provided with a stem 42 which extends through a hole or opening in a boss or enlargement it formed on a downwardly extending baille ll which extends substantially parallelwith the partition wall It andthe sides and upper portions of which are connected with or formed integral with the walls of the 14, in such a manner that any liquid through the valve controlled ll must first pass downwardly edge oi the baifle member I. This bails, theseiore,

toriseandpa-outoithis'housing the liquid in the chamber It,

materially helps to separs sinceany aircarried intothe nectim passage it rather be"wardld below the lower edge oi The enlargement or boss ll the baille it forms aguide for the valve stem 42 and a spring ll serves toexert pressure on theend oi the valve stem in a direction to urge the valve 4i yieldingly intopositionto closethe port I. inthepartition wall It. v The main or continually open discharge passage is preferably of smaller cross sectional area than that of the passages in the conduits or pipes l2 and I1. Consequently, when the pump is started to measure a quantity of liquid. liquid willbedischargedintothechamberflmore.

rapidly than it is-discharged through the opening it. This results in. creating a pressure of and is alsoexerteduponanygaswhichmaybecontained inthis chamber or in the connected chamber It thus forcing this gas out through the valve 8 into the pipe II when suiiicient gas has accumulated in the housing member 2| to cause the float '21 to open the valve 82.. While the gas is being discharged, the pressure in the separator will immediately decrease. causing the back pressure valve 4| to close, for the purpose of maintaining a pressure within the separator. As soon as this gas is discharged, the valve 32 will be closed until more gas is admitted through the pipe II. After the valve" has been closed, higherpressure will develop in the separator, which will. consequently, overcome the force exerted by the spring on the valve H, and thus cause the valve 4| to be opened, thus permitting a lull new of liquid out oi the housing It and into the pipe II.

The pocket or sump SI in the lower portion of thehousingpartllwillremainfilled 'lthliduid during all normal operation of the apparatus, and

this sump, consequently, i'or'ms a gas trap which prevents thefiow oigas either into the main passage or into the auxiliary passage 4|. with theaidoithisgastrap,theprovisionoiaoontinuouslyopenpassagellinnowayinterieres with eflcient separation of gas from the liquidwhichisbeingmeesured.

41 represents a plug in the lower portion oi the housing It. By removing this plus. the housing 24 maybe drained, and ii the parts are arranged as shown in Fig.1, the lower portion of the sump or pocket 3| will be approximately the lowest portion in the system. Consequently. by removing the plug 41, liquid remaining in the system may be drained.

There are several. advantages'resulting item the continually open passage leading from the lower portion of the chamber 24 of the separator to the meter. In the first place, this passage prevents the sudden fiow of liquid to the meter winch would result, ii the back pressure valve II were suddenly opened by the accumulation of pressure in the housing member 24. such sudden increase of pressure and fiow of liquid results --inadecreaseinaccuracyinthereadingoithe meter. Furthermore, the continuous open passage also avoids any sudden stopping of the flowoi liquid when the back pressure valve 4| closes,- thus eliminating the, possibility of an action equivalent to water-hammer and also increasing the accuracy oi the measurement by the meter. It will be noted thatthe continuously open passage II is located injthe lower portion of aamess the downwardly extending part or gas trap ll oi the housing N and this location oi the passage precludes the passing oi any gas through this passage during the normal operation oi the apparatus. The bottom oi the sump or depressedportion 85 oi the housing extends below both pipes l2 and I1, and consequently, during the normal operation oi the apparatus. a supply oi liquid will always be maintained in this portion oi the housing 24 so that the opening I. will be submerged. thus preventing the passage at gas through the opening '30.

The continuously open passage 30 has a iurther advantage, namely. that by iorming oi the same in the lower portion oi the gas trap in the housing 24, substantially all oi the liquid in the apparatus can be drained by removing the plug 41, whereas in systems heretoiore provided in which aback pressure valve controlledfipassage is provided, liquid cannot pass through the'valve passage, thus requiring two or more drain means.

I claim as my invention:

1. A gas separating device ior automatically discharging gas irom the delivery pipe line oi a liquid measuring apparatus during operation thereoi, said gas separating device having a chamber having inlet and discharge ports connected, to said delivery pipe lineand having a gas vent port in the upper portion thereoi, a valve operable by the level oi the liquid in said chamber to open and close communication through said vent port, said chamber having a lower portion extending below said inlet and discharge ports, a partition in said chamber arranged between said inlet and discharge ports and dividing said chamber into a gas separating compartment and a discharge compartment, said partition having two openingsione oi which is arranged in the lower portion oi said partition and the other oi which is located above said first mentioned opening, a valve yieldingly closing the other opening and adapted to move into open position by pressure within the gas separating compartment' oi said chamber, said partition and said lower portion oi said chamber iorming a gas trap to prevent gas irom passing through said lower opening to said discharge port. and a bailie in said chamber arranged adjacent to said other opening and between the same and said inlet port, said baiiie being connected with said chamber so that most oi the liquid passing irom said chamber to said other opening must pass below said baiile, to prevent gas irom passing through said other opening.

2. A gas separating device ior automatically discharging gas irom a delivery pipe line oi a liquid measuring apparatus during the operation thereoi, said device having a chamber havin inlet and discharge ports connected to said delivery pipe line, a port ior venting gas irom said chamber, a valve operable by the level oi the liquid in said chamber to open and close communication through said venting port. a lower portion oi said chamber extending below said inlet and discharge ports, a partition in said chamber arranged between said inlet and discharge ports and dividing said chamber into a gas separating compartment and a liquid discharge compartment, said partition having two openings at least .one oi which is arranged in the lower portion oi said partition and constantly open to prevent the closing oi all communication to said liquid measuring apparatus at any time, a valve yieldingly closing ber and entering said openings passes below said baflie to prevent gas irom entering the openings.

3. A gas separating device ior automatically discharging gas irom the delivery pipe line oi a liquid measuring apparatus during operation thereoi, said gas separating device having a chamber, having inlet and discharge ports connected to said delivery pipe line and having a gas vent port in the upper portion thereoi, a valve operable by the level oi the liquid in said chamber to open and close communication through said gas vent port, a partition in said chamber arranged between saidinlet and discharge ports and dividing said chamber into a gas separating compartment and a liquid discharge compartment,- said partition having an opening near the bottom oi said gas separating compartment and constantly open to prevent the closing oi all communicsi'ion through said partition at any time and also having an auxiliary passage through said partition, a valve yieldingly blocking said auxiliary passage and adapted to move into open position by pressure within the gas separating compartment oi said chamber, and a baiiie in said chamber between said auxiliary passage and said inlet port, said baflie being connected with said chamber so that liquid entering said opening passes below said bame to prevent gas irom entering the opening.

ROBERT S. BASSETI'. 

